Orthopedic cast



March?, 1967 G. B. SIMON ET AL ORTHOPEDIG CAST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarchv24, 1964 INVENTORS GLADYS B. SIMON MONROE REESE M: 5( 55mg March7, 1967 Q B SiMQN ET AL ORTHOPEDIC CAST 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24,1964 INVENTOR GLADYS a. 51h/15N BY MONROE REESE United States Patent O3,307,537 ORTHOPEDIC CAST Gladys B. Simon, 431 NE. 175th St., NorthMiami Beach, Fla. 33162, and Monroe Reese, 875 NW. 170 Terrace, NorthMiami, Fla. 33169 Filed Mar. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 354,362 4 Claims. (Cl.12S- 90) This invention relates in general to a cast means forimmobilizing body members, both human and animal, and more particularlyto a cast construction and process for applying same whereby theelements thereof are directly fitted to the member requiringimmobilization with provision for comfort, ventilation, medication andpainless removal.

Prior casts for this purpose are generally the well known combination ofplaster of Paris and muslin or similar fabric formed directly on themember to be immobilized and inherently prevent air circulation aroundthe member and have a relatively high undesirable weight factor and aredifiicult to remove wit-hout a degree of injury hazard to the mobilizedmember.

Other casts, suchv as those made with a combination of fabric and airdrying resin and those that are formed to approximate the cont-our of agiven member are fraught with problems of ventilation, difficulty inapplication, and are unusually bulky and include excessive weight.

The above objections and disadvantages are substantially overcome by thepresent invention in both the combination of elements used and theprocess of application, and appear to solve the long sought problem ofproducing a low cost, lightweight, adequately ventilated immobilizingmeans including means for easy removal, the constructon of which is theprincipal object of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a laminatedenclosure for a body member which includes an inner contact fabric, abarrier member and a fabric layer on whic-h saturation with an airdrying rigidifying layer of synthetic resin layer is applied.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a laminated formfitted cast for a body member including a plurality of tubular meansforming apertures therethrough for Ventilating the body member.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a laminatedorthopedic cast having secured therein a linear wire filament forcutting the rigidifying portion of the cast for the removal of same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a laminatedorthopedic cast having a plurality of spaced hollow rivets securedtherethrough for the purpose of Ventilating the immobilized memberencased by the cast.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of theinvention are described and shown in the following specification anddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laminated tube for forming a cast fora body member when rigidied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through section line 22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the laminate shown in FIG. 1 applied to a human limb.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged cross section of a portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through section line5 5, FIG. 4, showing the slitting filament shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates the castshown in FIG. 3, slit on both sides thereoffor removal.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cylindrical laminate like that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates the application of the laminate shown in FIG. 7around a human torso.

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FIG. 9 illustrates a laminated tube for application to body extremities.

FIG. l0 illustrates the tube shown in FIG. 9 applied to a human finger.

FIG. l1 illustrates a planar laminate for forming rigid body membercasts by wrapping.

FIG. 1 illustrates a tubular laminate 1 which is sufficiently yieldablein diverse directions to be applied to a human limb in confirmation withthe contours thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the laminate consists of an inner layer 2,such as stockinette or moleskin sheeting having self formingnon-wrinkling characteristics for minimum discomfort and abrasion. Ithas also been found that polyurethane foamed sheet material will readilyform to various contours and has the desired resilience and hygienicproperties for the lamination in contact with the skin.

The central or barrier lamina 3 consists of a layer of elastic material,such as silastic rubber adhesive which is impervious to liquid resinsand is self bonded to the inner lamina 2. This barrer layer may also bemade of certain plastic material which is bonded with but does notpermeate the inner lamina 2 and is impervious to a rigidifying resin tobe hereinafter descrbed. The use of well known adhesive materials mayalso be used for bonding the inner and central laminates together.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer lamina consists of a layer offiberglass fabric 4 which is stretchable in diverse directions andinherently adapted to conform to irregular contours and is self-bondedto the outside surface of the central lamina 3, or by the addition of anappropriate adhesive.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, a relatively fine filament or music wire5 traverses the tube as shown, and is retained between layers 2 and 3for the purpose of splitting the cast for the removal thereof. Analternate removal means comprehends a fine toothed filament retained inthe laminate which functions as a saw when reciprocated by the oppositeends thereof.

In orderto provide desired ventilation to the body member encased in thecast, a plurality of spaced tubular metal eyelets 6 are secured throughthe wall of the laminate by well known clinching means, best shown inFIG. 4. It is to be noted that because of the yieldable property of theinner laminate 2, the inner heads of the eyelets 6 are depressedsuiciently to avoid irritating contact to the surface of the skin.

Each eyelet is provide-d with a plug 7 preferably made from plasticmaterial which is inserted and frictionally retained in the bore of eachrivet for reasons to be hereinafter described. y

A typical application of the cast is shown in FIG. 3 in which apreformed tube of a selected size, as shown in FIG. l, is applied to aleg and conformed to the contours thereof because of the freestretchability of the three elements forming the cast. After theflexible cast is applied, as shown, all of the ventilation holes in theeyelets are temporarily closed by inserting plugs 7 therein.

The cast is rigidilied by spraying and saturating or otherwise applyingonto the fiberglass layer 7 and filling the interstices therein, an airdrying material, such aS polyester resin, an epoxy resin, or other wellknown suitable air drying plastic liquid. The barrier layer 3 preventsthe resin from penetrating into the protective layer 2 and to the skinof the member encased.

Prior to the complete hardening of the resin the plugs 7 are removed andwithin a relatively short period of time the resin will air harden andcompletely rigidity the entire cast, thus immobilizing the limb andproviding adequate ventilation thereto as well as providinginlets forthe application of medicants, as may be required.

When it is desired to remove the cast from the limb 1 each end of lament5 is clamped in a tool and one end pulled in an outward direction thusslitting the cast along its entire length, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a large version of the tri-laminated cast,previously described for encasing the torso, and the linear closurethereof made with a conventional hookless fastener means for easyapplication and removal.

FIGS. 9 and l0 illustrate a small tube of the tri-laminate forrigidifying a human finger. FIG. ll illustrates a trilamina sheet whichmay be used for general utility immobilizing purposes.

It is understood that certain modifications in the above construction,utilizing the features described, are intended to come within the scopeof `the appended claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A laminated orthopedic cast comprising an inner lamina of soft fabricwoven and adapted for diverse stretching, a central barrier lamina ofdiverse stretchable material of substantially uniform thicknessimpervious to liquid resin with the inner surface thereof self-bonded tothe outer surface of said inner lamina, an outer lamina of fiberglassfabric wove and adapted to stretching in diverse directions, said outerlamina permeated with air dried polyester resin for bonding the innersurface of the said outer lamina to the outer surface of said innerlamina and rigidizing said cast when the latter is conformed to apredetermined body member.

2. A laminated orthopedic cast comprising an inner lamina of resilientfoam plastic material of substantially uniform thickness and adapted fordiverse stretching, a central barrier lamina of diverse stretchablematerial of substantially uniform thickness impervious to liquid resinwith the inner surface thereof self-bonded to the outer surface of saidinner lamina, an outer lamina of fiberglass material constructed andadapted to stretch in diverse directions, the interstices in said outerlamina filled with air drying polyester resin for bonding the innersurface of said outer lamina to the outer surface of said inner laminaand rigidizing said cast when the latter is conformed to a predeterminedbody member.

3. A preformed orthopedic laminated cast comprising a substantiallycylindrical tubular inner lamina of yieldable material adapted fordiverse stretching, a central tubular barrier lamina of diversestretchable material impervious to liquid resin with the inner surfacethereof adjacent the outer surface of said inner lamina, an outertubular lamina of fiberglass adapted to stretching in diversedirections, a high tensil cutting filament positioned between sai-dinner and said barrier lamina in longitudinal relation thereto andprojecting from opposite ends thereof, the interstices in said outerlamina filled with air drying resin for rigidizing said cast when thelatter is conformed to a predetermined body member whereby the cast willbe split for removal when the filament is forced in a direction lateralto said cast and severing said barrier and fiberglass lamina.

4. A preformed orthopedic laminated cast comprising a substantiallycylindrical tubular inner lamina of yieldable material adapted fordiverse stretching, a central tubular barrier lamina of diversestretchable material irnpervious to liquid resin with the inner surfacethereof adjacent the outer surface of said inner lamina, an outertubular lamina of fiberglass adapted to 4stretching in diversedirections, the interstices in said outer lamina filled with air dryingresin for rigidizing said cast when the latter is conformed to apredetermined body member, said laminated cast having at least onelinear parting longitudinal thereof with like adjacent edges, a hooklessfastener means secured to each of said opposite edges forming a closureof said parting when operated whereby said cast may be expanded forremoval and replacement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,404,904 7/1946Collins 161-93 2,477,403 7/1949 Brady 12S-156 2,578,188 12/ 1951 Ionideset al 154-128 2,642,370 6/1953 Parsons et al 154l28 2,704,067 3/1955Moses 128-90 2,720,269 10/1955 Diacos 169-1 2,746,452 5/1956 Saylors12S-91.1

ROBERT E. MORGAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, I. W. HINEY,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A LAMINATED ORTHOPEDIC CAST COMPRISING AN INNER LAMINA OF SOFT FABRICWOVEN AND ADAPTED FOR DIVERSE STRETCHING, A CENTRAL BARRIER LAMINA OFDIVERSE STRETCHABLE MATERIAL OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESSIMPERVIOUS TO LIQUID RESIN WITH THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF SELF-BONDED TOTHE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID INNER LAMINA, AN OUTER LAMINA OF FIBERGLASSFABRIC WOVE AND ADAPTED TO STRETCHING IN DIVERSE DIRECTIONS, SAID OUTERLAMINA PERMEATED WITH AIR DRIED POLYESTER RESIN FOR BONDING THE INNERSURFACE OF THE SAID OUTER LAMINA TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID INNERLAMINA AND RIGIDIZING SAID CAST WHEN THE LATTER IS CONFORMED TO APREDETERMINED BODY MEMBER.